











































































































































































































































































































BETTER HEALTH 
FOR LITTLE AMERICANS 


by 


EDITH WILHELMINA LAWSON 

ROCKFORD (ILL.) PUBLIC SCHOOLS 


Author of 

Better Living for Little Americans 
Better Citizenship for Little Americans 
A Pet Reader 



HEALTH IS GREAT RICHES 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 

CHICAGO 




Copyright, 1932 , by 
BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 


Copyright, 1926, by 
BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

The author wishes to thank Miss Juanita 
McDougald, of the North Carolina State 
Department of Public Instruction, for her 
suggestions and help in the preparation of this 
new edition. 


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OE AMERICA 

31 ,‘332 

©CIA 53878 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

What We Must All Do. 

I Food. 

Good Food—Milk—Breakfast—Coffee and Tea—I 
Don’t Drink Coffee!—Guess My Name—Drink More 
Milk—What Am I?—Put Him on the Scales— 
Other Good Things to Eat—Fruit—Vegetables— 
Roots—Some Good Friends—Seeds—Stems—Food 
Song — Leaves — Our Dinner — The Cow — 
The Friendly Cow—A Riddle—Other Farm Ani¬ 
mals—Fowls—One, Two—A Queer Little House— 
Water—If—That’s the Way—A Riddle—Candy— 
A Riddle—Oh, for the Apple!—Health Rules—I’m 
Glad 

II Fresh Air and Sunshine. 

Fresh Air—Hoop Song—Fresh Air Is Good for All— 
Fresh Air in the Spring—Fresh Air in the Summer— 
Fresh Air in the Autumn—Fresh Air in the Winter— 
Winter Is Coming—Guess My Name—Sunshine 
and Fresh Air—The Sun—Open the Door—The Sun 
Is in the Sky 

III Cleanliness... 

Clean Hands and Faces—The Little Clock—Clean 
Bodies—What Are They?—Care of the Teeth—To 
Keep Good Health—A Good Resolve—Be Clean 

IV Sleep and Rest. 

Sleep—Sleep and Rest—Get Plenty of Sleep—Early 
and Late—How We Get Rest—Good Night Song 







CHAPTER 


PAGE 


V Exercise . 93 

Home Exercise — Exercise Through Play — An 


Exercise—Exercise in Spring and Summer—Autumn 
and Winter Exercise — Facts About Exercise — 
Exercise for All—Hints on Exercise—Exercise Song 

VI General Health Lessons. 109 

Posture—Care of the Feet—Care of the Eyes—Two 
Eyes and One Mouth—The Ears—Germs—More 
About Germs—The Fly—Fighting the Flies—Mos¬ 
quitoes—Rats and Mice—Colds—How to Prevent 
Colds—Healthful Homes—Muddy Jim—Where to 
Buy Food—The Healthy Child—For Good Health 
—Tobacco—Alcohol—Things to Remember—How 


Strong Are You? 

VII Health Inspection and Safety . 148 

Health Inspection—The School Doctor—A Safety- 
First Club 

VIII A Better Health Chart . 158 

IX Suggestions to Teachers . 159 


6 








What We Must All Do 

From the top of my head to my tiny 
toes 

I am built of bones, as every one knows. 

These are the framework so strong 
within; 

Outside they are covered with flesh 
and skin. 

The parts of my body are only three— 

My head, my trunk, and my limbs, 
as you see. 


7 






My head has a back, two sides, and a 
crown, 

All covered with hair, yellow, black, 
red, or brown. 



And, just in front, in the foremost 
place, 

You plainly can see my neat little face. 

My face has a forehead, nose, mouth, 
and chin; 

Two cheeks, where the dimples slip 
out and in. 

8 










Two eyes you see when you are near, 

Two ears, like sea-shells, to help me 
to hear. 

My neck and shoulders, so broad and 
strong, 

Arm, forearm, wrist, hand, and fin¬ 
gers long. 



My trunk and my thighs, legs, ankles, 
and knees, 

On two feet I stand, or run if I please. 
My joints are to bend when I run, 
jump, or walk; 







I’ve a little red tongue to help me to 
talk. . 

These make up my body, and now I 
will tell 

What we all must do to keep strong 
and well. 

To be neat and clean we must take 
great care, 

Have plenty of sunshine and breathe 
the fresh air; 

Eat nourishing food to make good 
blood, and then 

We all shall become strong women 
and men. 



10 







FOOD 


Good Food 

We should eat pure, wholesome food. 

We should eat three times a day. 

Plain food will make us grow stronger 
than will rich food. 

We should have milk every day. 

Eggs are good for us. 

Bread and meat help us to grow and 
become stronger. 

Cereals and vegetables are healthful 
foods. 

Fruits and simple desserts are good. 

We should eat often all these foods. 

Good food helps us to grow. 

n 


Milk 


Milk is good food. 

There is no better food for children 
than milk. 

Children can learn to like milk. 

Milk makes us healthy. 

Milk makes our teeth strong. 

Milk makes our bones strong. 

Milk helps us to do good work in 
school. 

Milk is the best food for children. 
We should drink milk every day. 

Thank you, pretty cow, that made 
Pleasant milk to soak my bread, 

Every day and every night, 

Warm and fresh and sweet and white. 

—Ann Taylor 


12 



Breakfast 

Eat some fruit every morning. 
Orange or grapefruit is good for 
breakfast. 

Baked apple is good, too. 

Oatmeal is good for our breakfast. 
Whole grain cereals are good for us. 

13 








Any cooked cereal is good for us. 

Cereals are made of oats, wheat, 
corn, rice and barley. 

Eggs are good for breakfast. 

We should eat eggs three or four times 
each week. 

Buttered toast is good for breakfast. 

Milk and cocoa are good to drink. 

Coffee and Tea 

Boys and girls should not drink coffee 
nor tea. 

Coffee and tea are not good for 
children. 

They make boys and girls thin. 

Coffee and tea do not make boys and 
girls strong and healthy. 

14 


Coffee and tea make girls and boys 
nervous. 

Girls and boys do not do good work 
when they drink much tea and 
coffee. 

Coffee and tea make children lose sleep. 

Children who drink much tea and 
coffee sometimes feel dull and 
tired. 

We will not drink coffee and tea be¬ 
cause they are not good for us. 

I Don’t Drink Coffee! 

One, two, three, 

I don’t drink coffee, 

I don’t drink tea. 

One, two, three, 

Water, milk, and cocoa 
Are better for me. 


15 


Guess My Name 

I was a brown berry. 

I was ground with other berries just 
like me. 

Then I was put into water. 

After I had been boiled, I was poured 
into a cup. 

I was mixed with milk and sugar. 

I hurt grown people. 

I hurt little people even more than 
grown people. 

I make children cross and nervous. 

Sometimes I make them feel dull. 

I keep children awake nights. 

I help to make them thin. 

Can you guess my name? 

16 



Drink More Milk 

Instead of drinking coffee and tea, 
children should drink milk. 

We should drink three or four glasses 
of milk every day. 

We should drink our milk slowly. 
Milk makes us gain in weight. 

We do not want to be under weight. 


17 















If we are under weight we shall not 
be strong. 

Milk makes boys and girls strong. 
Fresh sweet milk makes children 
healthy. 

It makes boys and girls sleep well. 
What Am I? 

I am white. 

I come from a cow. 

I am good to drink. 

Babies cry for me. 

Kittens mew for me. 

Boys and girls like me. 

Sometimes I am found in a bottle. 
What am I? 


18 



Put Him on the Scales 

Eenie, meenie, minie, mo, 

Catch a thin boy by the toe; 

Put him on the scales to see 
If he’s as healthy as he should be. 
If he’s not what he should weigh, 
Give him a quart of milk each day. 

19 






















Other Good Things to Eat 

If we wish to grow up to be strong 
men and women, we must eat the 
right kinds of food. 

We should eat bread and butter. 
Whole wheat bread is good for us. 

We should eat it at least once a day. 
20 





















Potatoes are good for us. 

We should eat other vegetables, too. 

We should eat some raw vegetable 
and fruit every day. 

Soup made of vegetables and milk is 
good for us. 

We should eat meat only once a day. 

Macaroni and fish are good for chil¬ 
dren. 

Boys and girls like nuts and may eat 
a few at times. 

Rice and corn flakes are good for us. 

Rye bread and barley are still better. 

Custard makes a good dessert. 

Puddings made of milk are good for 
children. 


21 


Fruit 


Fruit is very good for boys and girls. 

Apples, oranges and peaches are good 
for girls and boys. 

Grapes, pears and plums are good for 
children. 

Strawberries, blackberries and blue¬ 
berries are good to eat. 

Grapefruit and cherries are good for 
boys and girls. 

We should eat orange or grapefruit 
for breakfast. 

Bananas must be ripe to be good for 
children to eat. 

Bananas are ripe when there are brown 

spots on the skins. 

22 



Bananas are not good when the skins 
are all brown. 

Dried fruits are good to eat. 

Prunes, figs and dates are good for 
children. 

Fruit may be eaten raw or stewed. 
Canned fruit and jellies are good. 

23 











Children should not eat too much jam 
or marmalade. 

Fruit is wholesome food for children. 
We should eat fruit every day. 

Eating more fruit means better health. 



Currants on a bush 
And figs on a stem, 

And cherries on a bending bough 
And Ned to gather them. 

—Christina G. Rossetti 


24 







Vegetables 

Every day we should eat some fresh 
vegetables. 

Vegetables are good for boys and girls. 
Potatoes are good for children. 
Potatoes may be boiled or baked. 
Mashed potatoes are good to eat for 
dinner. 

Peas and beans are good foods. 
Spinach and asparagus are good. 
Tomatoes are good for children. 
Carrots and turnips are good for girls 
and boys. 

Corn and cauliflower are good, too. 
Celery and beets are good. 

Onions are good, too. 

25 



More Vegetables — Better Health 


26 





















































































































































Cabbage and squash are good for chil¬ 
dren. 

Dried and canned vegetables are good 
to eat. 

Some vegetables make good soup. 

Potatoes and corn may be made into 
soup. 

Celery makes good soup. 

Children like tomato soup. 

Cream of tomato soup is good for 
children. 

Radishes and lettuce are very good for 
children. 

All of these help us to grow. 

We should not eat many pickles. 

They do not help us to grow. 


27 



Some roots are good for food. 
Potatoes are roots that are good food. 
Beets and onions are roots, too. 
Turnips and radishes are roots. 

Parsnips and carrots are roots. 

28 









Sweet potatoes are roots. 

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are both 
good for children. 

Children like beets and carrots. 
Turnips and onions are good for boys 
and girls. 

These roots are all good foods for 
children. 

Some Good Friends 

Big Potato and Little Meat 
Give us energy and heat. 

If we eat red Billy Beet 
We will find him nice and sweet. 

Carrots and Spinach like to eat 
Iron from the ground. 

If we eat them, we shall be 
Big and strong and round. 

29 


Seeds 


Some seeds are good for food. 

Wheat seeds are made into flour. 

Flour is made into bread. 

Bread is good food for us. 

Corn is good food for children. 

Peas and beans are good for boys and 
girls. 

White beans and brown beans are both 
good to eat. 

Peas and beans may be dried. 

Dried peas make good soup. 

Dried beans may be boiled or baked. 

Lima beans are liked by children. 

These seeds are all good food for us to 
eat. 


30 


■X 



Stems 

Some stems are good for boys and 
girls. 

Beet stems are good for us. 

Pieplant or rhubarb stems are good 
for children. 

Pieplant stems are stewed for sauce. 


31 







Cooked asparagus stems are good 
to eat. 

Onions and celery stems are also very 
healthful foods. 

All these stems are good to eat. 

Food Song 

Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat 

Drink, drink the good milk, 

Eat some oatmeal, too. 

Apple and orange, and brown bread 
and butter 
Are very good for you. 

Eat, eat the best food, 

That’s the healthful way. 

Corn and potatoes and rice 
and tomatoes 
Are very good, I say. 

32 



Leaves 

Some leaves are good foods. 

Lettuce leaves are good for children. 
Leaf lettuce and head lettuce are both 
good. 

Spinach leaves are good for boys and 
girls. 


33 



Dandelion leaves are good to eat. 

Beet leaves are good for us. 

Water cress is a good food. 

We have to cook spinach and dande¬ 
lion and beet leaves. 

We do not need to cook lettuce and 
water cress. 

We should eat all these leaves. 

In winter as well as summer, we should 
eat some leafy vegetable. 

They are all good foods for children. 

Our Dinner 

Now for our dinner!—what shall we eat? 
Plenty of vegetables, but little meat; 

Potatoes, carrots, and spinach are fine; 

These give us strength, if on them we dine. 

34 


The Cow 

The cow gives us good food. 

She gives us milk. 

Children should drink milk every day. 
Butter and cheese are made from milk. 
Buttermilk comes from milk. 

Cottage cheese is made from milk. 
Fresh cottage cheese is good for girls 
and boys. 

Custards are made with milk. 
Children should eat butter, cheese 
and custards. 

Cream rises on the top of the milk. 
We can make ice cream from cream. 
Children like ice cream, which is a 
good dessert. 


35 


The cow gives us beef. 

Beef is good meat. 

Roast beef is good to eat. 

Beefsteak is good, too. 

Stewed beef with vegetables is good for 
boys and girls. 

Beef may be made into soup, too. 
Children like beef soup. 

All these foods are good for us. 

The cow gives us all these good foods. 

The Friendly Cow 

The friendly cow, all red and white, 

I love with all my heart: 

She gives me cream with all her might, 

To eat with apple-tart. 

—Robert Louis Stevenson 


36 


A Riddle 


I am thinking of an animal that gives 
us milk to drink. 

It gives us meat to eat. 

It gives us cheese and something to 
spread on our bread. 

It gives us soap to wash our hands. 
Can you guess its name? 



37 









Other Farm Animals 
Other farm animals give us food. 
From the lamb come lamb chops and 
roast lamb. 

Lamb chops and roast lamb are both 
good for children. 

38 






The pig gives us ham and pork. 

The pig gives us bacon and salt pork. 
For children, bacon is the best food 
which the pig gives us. 

Bacon is good for breakfast. 

Bacon is good to eat with eggs. 
Children like bacon and eggs. 

39 





























Fowls 


Fowls come from the farm. 

Chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese 
are fowls. 

They are good to eat. 

Besides, the hen lays eggs. 






Eggs are good to eat. 

Fresh eggs are very good for little boys 
and girls. 

We may eat eggs for breakfast. 

We may eat them at other times, too, 
in place of meat. 

Puddings made with eggs are good, 
too. 


One, Two 

One, two, milk’s good for you! 

Three, four, play out of doors. 

Five, six, bread nice and thick. 

Seven, eight, stand up straight. 

Nine, ten, eggs from the hen. 

Eleven, twelve, brush yotir teeth well. 
And so on to nineteen, twenty. 
Healthy children are plenty. 

41 


A Queer Little House 

There’s a queer little house 
That stands in the sun; 

When the good mother calls 
The children all run; 

While under her roof 
It is cozy and warm, 

Though the cold wind may whistle 
And bluster and storm. 

In the daytime this queer 
Little house moves away, 

And the children run after, 

So happy and gay; 

But it comes back at night 
And the children are fed 


42 



And tucked up to sleep 

In their warm, cozy bed. 

This queer little house 

Has no windows nor doors; 


43 





























The roof has no shingles, 

The rooms have no floors; 
No fireplaces, chimneys, 

No stoves can you see, 

Yet the children are cozy 
And warm as can be. 

The story of this 

Little house is quite true; 

I have seen it myself, 

And I’m sure you have, too; 
You can see it to-day 

If you’ll watch the old hen 
While her downy wings cover 
Her chickens again. 


44 


Water 


Water is good for us. 

We should drink plenty of water. 
Children should drink four glasses or 
more of water every day. 

We should drink water between meals. 
It is good for us to drink water 
before breakfast. 

Our food is cooked in water. 

We need water every day. 

Our bodies are three parts water. 

So we must drink plenty of water. 
Fresh, cool water satisfies thirst. 
Water is better for children than tea 
or coffee. 

Water quenches thirst. 

45 


Boys and girls should drink plenty of 
water. 

Children need water to make them 
strong and healthy. 

If 

If all the world were apple-pie, 

And all the sea were ink, 

And all the trees were bread and cheese, 
What should we have to drink? 

That’s the Way 

A bit of work, a bit of play, 

And lots of quiet sleep. 

A cheerful heart and a sunny face, 

The health chores done at a merry pace. 

Ah, that’s the way the children grow, 

Don’t you know? 

That’s the way little children grow\ 

46 


A Riddle 


I am thinking of something that is 
good to drink. 

We could not live without it. 

It has no taste. 

It has no color. 

We can see through it. 

It comes from the rivers and lakes. 

It comes from brooks and creeks. 

It comes from springs. 

It comes from clouds. 

Sometimes it is salty. 

Then we cannot drink it. 

We cook with it. 

It makes us sweet and clean. 

Mother Nature uses very much of it. 

47 


Our own mothers use very much of it. 
It keeps our houses sweet and clean. 
We cross the ocean on it. 

In winter we skate on it. 

Fish live in it. 

Insects like it. 

Nothing could live without it. 

Can you guess its name? 



48 














Candy- 

Children may eat a little candy once 
in a while. 

The candy should be made of pure 
materials. 

Too much candy is not good for chil¬ 
dren. 

We should not eat candy between 
meals. 

If we eat candy between meals, we shall 
not be hungry at meal time. 

If we are not hungry at meal time, we 
shall not eat much at our meals. 

If we do not eat our meals, we shall 
not get the good food we need. 

Then we shall lose weight. 

49 


A Riddle 

You can put me upon your bread. 
I am very sweet. 

I am better than candy. 

I am good for you. 

Busy bees make me. 

What am I? 

[Honey] 


Oh, for the Apple! 

Oh, for the apple! 

So round and so red, 

It’s better than candy, 
Let’s eat it instead. 

More fruit, good fruit! 

Date, orange and fig; 
The children who eat them 
Will surely grow big. 

50 


Health Rules 

We should eat three good meals a day. 
Always eat at the same time of day. 
Eat slowly. 

Take time to eat at the table. 

Stay at the table twenty minutes. 

Be happy at meal time. 

Chew your food well. 

Eat plenty of good, wholesome food. 
Drink plenty of milk. 

Drink plenty of water. 

Try to grow strong and well. 

Take good care of your teeth. 

Bathe at least twice a week. 

Go to bed early. 

Children, get plenty of sleep! 

51 


Health Brings Happine 

52 






























































































Sleep with your windows wide open. 
Play outdoors. 

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. 
Always brush your teeth before going 
to bed. 

Drink no coffee nor tea. 

Eat vegetables and fruit every day. 
Milk pure, 

Air pure, 

Water pure. 

Three things pure 
That help to cure. 

I’m Glad 

I’m glad the sky is painted blue, 

And the earth is painted green, 

With such a lot of nice fresh air 
All sandwiched in between. 


53 


Fresh Air and Sunshine for Health 

54 













FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE 


Fresh Air 

No one can live without fresh air. 
Animals need fresh air. 

Babies must have fresh air. 

Children need fresh air. 

Girls cannot live without fresh air. 
Boys cannot live without fresh air. 
Young people need fresh air. 

Old people cannot live without fresh 
air. 

School children need fresh air. 
Teachers cannot live without fresh air. 
Well people need fresh air. 

Sick people need fresh air. 

55 


Fresh air is good for all. 

Fresh air helps children to grow. 

We need fresh air when we are asleep. 
We need fresh air when we are awake. 
So children should play outdoors. 
Fresh air makes children healthy. 
Fresh air makes children happy. 


Hoop Song 

Trundle-undle-undle! 

Round and round and round 
Go the hoops, in little troops, 
Rolling on the ground. 

Rumble-umble-umble! 

Ever up and down 

The little girls with flying curls 

Drive them through the town. 

56 



Fresh Air Is Good for All 

Fresh air is good for every one. 

Fresh air was good for the Tree Dwell¬ 
ers long ago. 

The Tree Dwellers had fresh air all the 
time. 

Fresh air was good for the Indians. 

57 








Indians are Red Men. 

Fresh air was good for the Pilgrims. 

Fresh air is good for the Chinese. 

The Chinese are yellow. 

Fresh air is good for the Negro. 

The Negro is black. 

Fresh air is good for white people. 

Fresh air is good for the red, black, 
yellow and white races. 

Fresh air is good for boys and girls. 

That is why we play outdoors and 
sleep with our windows open. 

Children should have plenty of fresh 
air. 

Fresh air makes children well and 
strong. 

We need fresh air as much as food. 


58 



Fresh Air in the Spring 
Fresh air is needed in the springtime. 
Fresh air is needed in windy March 
weather. 

Then we wear warm clothes. 

Fresh air is needed in April, when show¬ 
ers fall. 


59 





Fresh air is needed in May, when the 
apple trees blossom. 

Fresh air is needed during the three 
months of spring. 

March, April and May are the months 
of spring. 

We can play outdoors in the spring. 

It is good for us to be outdoors in the 
spring. 

The green leaves come out in the 
spring. 

Then it is pleasant to be outdoors. 

We like to be outdoors in the spring. 


There is no time like spring 
When life’s alive in everything. 

—Christina G. Rossetti 


60 



Fresh Air in the Summer 

In summer we should be outdoors 
most of the time. 

We should spend most of our time out¬ 
doors in June. 

The roses bloom in June. 

Many flowers bloom in June. 

61 












We should be outdoors in July, when 
the days are warm. 

In July there are many flowers in 
bloom and fruit is ripe. 

We should be outdoors in August, 
when the days are hot. 

If we can, we should sleep outdoors 
in the summer. 

The summer days are long and 
bright. 

We should get plenty of fresh air in 
summer. 

We should sleep with our windows 
wide open in summer. 

June, July and August are the summer 
months. 


62 


We take long walks and play outdoors 
in the summer sunshine. 

This golden sunshine makes us look 
like little brown Indians. 

But still we want the sunshine. 

For sunshine makes us grow taller 
and stronger. 

It makes strong bones and teeth. 

The summer sunshine gets us ready 
for the cold, dark days of winter. 

Sunshine is a free medicine that 
helps to keep the doctor away. 


The wonderful air is over me, 

And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree. 

—William Brighty Bands 


63 




Fresh Air in the Autumn 

We need fresh air in autumn. 

We need fresh air in September, when 
we start to school. 

September is the first month of 
autumn. 


64 







We need fresh air in October, when 
the leaves begin to fall. 

We need fresh air in November, when 
the days grow cold. 

We need fresh air during the three 
months of autumn. 

We can play outdoors’ in the three 
months of autumn. 

When the days grow cold, we wear 
warm wraps. 

The leaves turn yellow in the autumn. 

Some of the leaves turn red. 

When the leaves turn, the trees look 
bright. 

Boys and girls like to play games out¬ 
doors in autumn. 


65 


Fresh Air in the Winter 

Fresh air is needed in the winter. 

Fresh air is needed in December, the 
Christmas month. 

Fresh air is good for us in January. 

January is the first month of the year. 

Fresh air is needed in February. 

George Washington was born in Feb¬ 
ruary. 

Abraham Lincoln was born in Feb¬ 
ruary. 

They both loved the great outdoors. 

Fresh air is needed even when it is 
very cold. 

It is cold in winter. 

Fresh air gives us rosy cheeks. 


66 


We need fresh air during the three 
months of winter. 

We wear warm clothing in winter. 

Then we can go out and enjoy the 
fresh air. 

We can play outdoors in the winter 
time. 

We need fresh air in winter as well as 
in summer. 

We need fresh air all the year round. 

We can enjoy games and sports out¬ 
doors in winter, too. 

We need fresh air in winter, even 
though it is cold. 

We sleep with our windows open in 
winter’s coldest weather. 


67 


Winter Is Coming 

Go bring the sled 
From out the shed, 
Hunt up your mittens, boys; 
For well I know 
There’ll soon be snow, 
And then for winter joys. 

We’ll build a fort; 

Oh, boys, what sport! 

So pile the snow-walls high! 
We’ll have a fight 
With bullets white— 
Ah, won’t the snowballs fly! 

Hurrah! my chums! 

The snow-storm comes, 

68 


Ah, now’s the time for fun! 
The flakes fall fast, 

It snows at last, 

The winter is begun. 

Oh, oh, oh, oh, 

Just see the snow, 

The ground is almost white! 

69 









To-morrow, boys, 

For fun and noise! 

I hope ’twill snow all night. 

Guess My Name 

I do not often visit dark, damp cellars. 
When it is very cloudy you do not see 
me. 

You see me only in the daytime. 

You can feel me, but you cannot hold 
me. 

I am good for plants. 

I am good for children. 

I warm the earth. 

I bring health to many people. 

Guess my name. 


70 


[Sunshine] 


Sunshine and Fresh Air 

Sunshine and fresh air make us 
healthy. 

Sunshine and fresh air make us grow. 

Fresh air and sunshine help us do good 
work in school. 

Sometimes fresh air and sunshine 
make our cheeks rosy. 

Fresh air and sunshine are good for 
children. 

Fresh air and sunshine make us feel 
well. 

Fresh air and sunshine make us feel 
happy. 

Sunshine and fresh air make us 
strong. 


71 


Sunshine and fresh air make children 
feel well. 

Sometimes fresh air will cure a head¬ 
ache. 

Sometimes, if we are tired, fresh air 
will make us feel rested. 

Children should play outdoors in the 
fresh air. 

Children should get fresh air and sun¬ 
shine all the year round. 

Outdoor games make children happy 
and healthy. 

Spend at least an hour out of doors 
every day. 

We will breathe pure air. 

We will live in the sunlight. 


The Sun 


I never go to sleep, dear child, 

I’m always shining bright, 

But as your world goes turning round 
It takes you from my light. 

And then I shine upon the moon 
And she shines back to you, 

So that my light you often see 
When hidden from my view. 

And as your world goes turning round 
It whirls you into night, 

But brings ’round other boys and girls 
Into my shining light. 

And so I shine, forever shine, 

While you both sleep and wake; 

73 


And now you’ve rolled around again 
My kind good morning take. 

—Amy Fiske 


Open the Door 
Open the door, let in the sun; 

He hath a smile for every one. 

He hath made of the raindrops gold 
and gems; 

He giveth to us earth’s diadems. 

Open the door. 

The Sun Is in the Sky 
Whether fair, whether foul, 

Be it wet or dry, 

Cloudy time or shiny time, 

The sun is in the sky. 

74 


CLEANLINESS 
Clean Hands and Faces 

If we wish to be healthy, we should be 
clean. 

We should wash our hands and faces 
in the morning when we get up. 

Warm water and good soap are best 
for washing the hands and face. 

We should wash our hands before 
every meal. 

We should always wash our hands 
before handling food. 

We should wash our hands before 
going to school. 

Our finger nails should be cleaned 
every day. 


75 


We should always wash before going 
to bed. 

Whenever we have done anything to 
soil our hands, we should be 
sure to wash them. 

Indeed, we should keep our hands 
and faces clean all of the time. 

Then we shall look and feel happy. 

The Little Clock 

There’s a neat little clock, 

In the schoolroom it stands, 

And it points to the time 
With its two little hands. 

And may we, like the clock, 

Keep a face clean and bright, 

With hands ever ready 
To do what is right. 

76 



Clean Bodies 


We should keep our bodies clean. 

In summer take a bath several times 
a week. 

Always take a bath more than once a 
week. 


77 















































Keep your feet clean. 

Wash your hair at least once a month. 
Keep your teeth clean. 

Use a toothbrush and a good tooth¬ 
paste. 

Brush the insides of your teeth as well 
as the outsides. 

Be sure to keep your neck clean. 

Keep your ears clean, too. 

Keep your clothes clean. 

If you are clean you will feel better 
and look better. 

What Are They? 

Thirty white horses upon a red hill , 

Now they tramp, now they champ, 
now they stand still. 

78 


Care of the Teeth 
Good teeth help to keep us well. 

If we have good teeth, we can chew 
our food well. 

If we chew our food well, we shall 
have better health. 

We should take good care of our teeth. 










We should brush our teeth after each 
meal and at bedtime. 

We should keep our toothbrushes 
clean. 

Washing them in hot water and soap, 
and drying them in the sunshine 
will help to kill the bad germs. 

Remember, the dentist is a good friend. 

Visit him twice every year. 

If we have a cavity in a tooth, we 
should go to the dentist at once, 
and have it filled. 

If we do not do this, we may lose 
the tooth. 

Sometimes decayed teeth make us 
sick. 


80 


Decayed teeth give us toothache. 

Decayed teeth often cause pains and 
aches in different parts of our 
bodies. 

Good food helps to make the teeth 
strong. 

Milk and orange juice are both good 
for the teeth. 

White cabbage, green lettuce, and 
red tomatoes are also very good 
for our teeth. 

Exercise is good for the teeth, too. 

We exercise our teeth by eating hard 
foods. 

Apples and hard toast are foods that 
exercise the teeth. 


81 


Baked potatoes with jackets are good 
for our teeth. 

Play in the sunshine also makes better 
teeth. 

So we must go out in the sunshine 
every day. 

Clean, white teeth make us better 
looking. 

People like to see clean, white teeth. 

We are going to take good care of our 
teeth. 

We are going to brush them, eat good 
food, play in the sunshine, and 
visit the dentist, too. 

Then we shall have better health 

and happy minds. 

82 


To Keep Good Health 

Your hands and face clean should you 
keep; 

The windows open while you sleep; 

And brush your teeth three times a 
day; 

To keep good health, this is the way. 

A Good Resolve 

Before I lay me down to sleep, 

Each night I’ll brush my teeth. 

Each morning when I awake 

Again my little brush I’ll take— 

A thorough brushing to repeat, 

To keep my mouth clean and 
sweet. 


83 


Be Clean 


Always wear clean clothes. 

Clean hands help to keep clothes clean. 

We should change our underwear at 
least once a week. 

When we go to bed, we should wear 
clean night clothes. 

We should live in clean houses. 

Children should help keep the house 
clean. 

Eat clean food. 

Wash carefully all fruits and vegeta¬ 
bles. 

Be sure the dishes are clean. 

The one who does the cooking should 
be clean and neat, too. 

84 


SLEEP AND REST 


Sleep 

If we wish to have good health we 
must have plenty of sleep. 

Grown people need eight hours of sleep. 

Children need more sleep than grown 
people. 

Weak children need more sleep than 
strong children. 

Children need ten or twelve hours of 
sleep every night. 

Little children should go to bed at 
eight o’clock. 

Older children should go to bed at 
nine o’clock. 


85 



We should sleep with our windows 
wide open. 

In the winter we need warm covers on 
our bed. 

Children should get plenty of sleep. 
All children need plenty of sleep. 


86 















Sleep and Rest 


Sleep and rest help us to gain in weight. 
Sleep and rest make children strong 
and well. 

Sleep and rest help us to do good work 
in school. 

Sleep and rest make us look well. 
Sleep and rest help us to be happy. 
Sleep and rest keep us from being lazy. 
Sleep and rest keep us from getting 
nervous. 

Sleep and rest are good for boys and 
girls. 

Go to bed early and sleep very tight; 

You’ll wake up in the morning feeling 
gay and bright. 

87 


Get Plenty of Sleep 

If we get enough sleep, we shall not 
be nervous. 

Then we shall do good work in school. 

We shall be well and strong and 
happy, if we get enough sleep. 

If we get enough sleep, we shall not 
be under weight. 

Children who get enough sleep feel 
wide awake and rested. 

Boys and girls who get enough sleep 
feel happy and cheerful. 

So we are going to try to get enough 
sleep. 

We are going to sleep with our win¬ 
dows wide open. 



Early and Late 

Go to bed early—wake up with joy; 
Go to bed late—cross girl or boy. 
Go to bed early—ready for play; 

Go to bed late—moping all day. 

Go to bed early—no pains or ills; 
Go to bed late—doctors and pills. 
Go to bed early—grow very tall; 

Go to bed late—stay very small. 

— W. S. Reed 


89 










How We Get Rest 


We rest when we sleep. 

It rests us to do something different 
from what we have been doing. 

If we have been sitting a long time, it 
rests us to stand. 

If we have been standing a long time, 
it rests us to sit down. 

If we have been quiet a long time, it 
rests us to exercise. 

If we have been working hard, it rests 
us to be quiet. 

If we have been working with our 
brains, it rests us to work with 
our muscles. 

Change is sometimes restful. 

90 


Boys and girls should get plenty of 
rest in sleep. 

When you are tired, you should stop 
and rest. 

Good Night Song 

Tune: Good Night , Ladies! 

Good night, mother! 

Good night, daddy! 

Good night, parents! 

We’re going to leave you now. 

Eight o’clock is time to go, 

Time to go, time to go, 

Eight o’clock is time to go 
To our little beds. 

Early to bed and early to rise 

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. 

91 



Outdoor Play Brings Health 











EXERCISE 


Home Exercise 

Exercise helps to keep well people in 
good health. 

Some of our work at home is good for 
us. 

When we help our mother, we some¬ 
times help ourselves. 

We can get exercise at home. 

We can sweep the kitchen floor. 

We can make the beds. 

Boys can chop wood. 

Boys can carry in wood and coal. 

We can dust the furniture. 

Boys can shovel coal. 

93 



In winter time we can sweep the snow 
from the walks. 

We can go to the store for our mother. 
We can play with the baby. 

We can give the baby a ride. 

In autumn we can rake the leaves. 


94 


















In summer we can help keep the lawn 
in good order. 

We can water the flowers and plants. 
We can pull the weeds from the garden. 
We can do many things at home to 
help. 

Exercise Through Play 

We get exercise in many ways. 

We get exercise in our play. 

We get exercise by running. 

We run outdoors and play tag. 

We get exercise by jumping the rope. 
We get exercise by playing ball. 

We throw snowballs. 

We skate’and get exercise. 

95 



We get exercise by playing games. 

In summer we fly kites. 

We play “hide-and-seek.” 

We get exercise playing “run-away.” 
We coast down the hill. 

We skip and run and hippity-hop 
all the year round. 


96 












An Exercise 


(Teach poem with actions) 

My hands upon my (1) head I’ll place, 
On my (2) shoulders, on my (3) face, 
On my (4) hips, then at my (5) sides, 
And now (6) behind me they will hide. 
Next I will lift them (7) up on high, 
And make my (8) fingers swiftly fly. 
I’ll hold them now in (9) front of me; 
Then I will (10) clap them, one, two, 
three. 

(1) Place both hands upon head. (2) Place both hands upon 
shoulders. (3) Put both hands on face. (4) Hand on each hip. 
(5) Hold hands closely at sides. (6) Clasp hands behind back. 
(7) Hold vertically above head. (8) Move fingers rapidly as in 
playing piano. (9) Arms stretched to front. (10) Clap three 
times in unison. 


97 


Exercise in Spring and Summer 
There are exercises for us in the spring 
and in the summer. 

In the summer we swing. 

We ride upon our little wagons. 

We swim. 

We run. 

We skate on roller skates. 

We play games of all kinds. 

We play baseball. 

We go fishing. 

We jump rope. 

We play cowboy. 

Boys can saw wood for their mothers. 
Girls can sweep the porches for their 
mothers. 


98 



We can go to the store for our mothers. 
We can plant flowers and care for them. 
We pull weeds from the garden. 

Boys can cut the grass on the lawn. 
Girls can help indoors. 

We can always exercise in both work 
and play. 


99 








Autumn and Winter Exercise 

We get exercise in autumn and winter, 
too. 

We rake the leaves and burn them in 
the fall. 

We gather nuts in autumn. 

We sweep sidewalks. 

In the winter we skate on ice skates. 
We coast down the hill. 

At home we throw snowballs. 

We shovel snow off the sidewalks. 

We play in the snow. 

In the winter we carry coal. 

We play hockey upon the ice. 

When there is snow we play “fox and 
geese.” 


100 



We make snow houses. 

In autumn and winter we play out¬ 
doors. 

It is good for children to play outdoors 

in autumn and in winter. 

It makes them strong and healthy. 

101 





Facts About Exercise 
The right kind of exercise is good for us. 
It helps the muscles to grow firm and 
strong. 

It keeps people from getting too fat. 
It strengthens the heart. 

Exercise is good for healthy lungs. 
Exercise helps to make the blood rich 
and pure. 

It makes the blood flow faster. 
Exercise sometimes gives us rosy 
cheeks. 

All people need oxygen. 

Exercise makes us breathe deeper. 

Then we get more oxygen. 

Exercise makes boys and girls stronger. 
102 



It makes them brighter and happier. 

Exercise helps our bodies to get rid of 
poisons and wastes. 

Then we have better health. 

Exercise helps us to digest our food 
well. 

If we digest our food, we shall grow 
strong and well. 

Exercise helps us to have better health. 

Boys and girls should have the right 
kind of exercise. 


103 












Exercises for All 

Most people get exercise. 

The baby exercises when he moves his 
arms and kicks with his legs. 

Children run, jump and skip. 

They play games, too. 

Sometimes they help with the work at 
home. 

School children exercise in school and 
in the gymnasium. 

Older boys and girls play games and 
get exercise. 

Older boys play baseball and football 
and basket ball. 

Older girls play volley ball and basket 
ball. 


104 



Our mothers do the housework. 

Many fathers get exercise in their 
work. 

Farmers work out in the fields. 


105 










Business men often exercise by walking 
to their work. 

Sometimes they play golf, too. 

Office girls and other women workers 
play tennis and golf. 

Almost every one gets some exercise by 
walking. 

Most people exercise both through 
work and play. 

Children need plenty of the right kind 
of exercise. 

Exercise makes the muscles strong. 

Exercise helps to make the body grow 
strong. 

Every one should take exercise every 
day. 


106 


Hints on Exercise 

Too much exercise is sometimes hard 
on the heart. 

So don’t overdo. 

Never exercise until you become very 
tired. 

Exercise when you are fresh. 

Late in the day is not a good time. 

Do not exercise much after a hearty 
meal. 

Take much of your exercise in the 
open air. 

If you cannot do this, exercise in a 
room with windows open. 

The air out of doors is fresher than 
that indoors. 


107 


Always wear loose clothes when you 
exercise. 

Get all the fun you can out of your 
exercise. 

Learn to enjoy your exercise. 

Exercise Song 

Tune: Three Blind Mice 

Exercise, exercise, 

Helps us keep well, 

Helps us keep well. 

We’ll walk and we’ll run and jump 
and skip, 

We’ll play outdoors every single day. 

We’ll skate on the ice or we’ll coast 
down the hill for exercise. 


108 


GENERAL HEALTH LESSONS 



Posture 


Bad posture may hurt us. 

It always makes a boy or girl look 
careless and shiftless. 

Besides, a lazy body often means a 
lazy brain. 


109 












If you wish to keep well and look well, 
learn to stand, sit and walk erect. 

Good positions help to keep us well. 

Always stand on both feet. 

If you stand too much on one foot, one 
hip may grow larger than the 
other. 

Throw your shoulders back. 

Keep your chest high. 

Then you will not grow round 
shouldered. 

Grow straight and beautiful. 

Remember that good posture makes a 
boy or a girl look better, feel bet¬ 
ter and think better. 

Good posture always pays. 


no 



Care of the Feet 

Take good care of your feet. 

Then they will never ache or cause pain. 
Painful feet make scowling faces and 
cause much trouble. 

Good feet bring joys and smiles. 


Ill 




You want your feet to be comfortable. 

So take care of your feet. 

Bathe them every night. 

Wear clean stockings. 

Keep your feet warm and dry. 

Wear the right kind of shoes. 

Be sure that your shoes have good, 
broad heels. 

Be sure that they are long enough. 

See that your shoes are wide enough. 

Do not wear a shoe that pinches your 
toes. 

Remember that sometimes it is a good 
plan to be a little barefoot child. 

If you wish to enjoy living and walk¬ 
ing, take care of your feet. 

112 



Our eyes are the windows of our bodies. 
With them we see the beautiful out¬ 
doors. 


With them, too, we peep into storyland 
and read about strange children 
in far-away lands. 

113 
























It pays to be good to our eyes. 

Let us remember these things: 

Never face the light when reading. 

When reading, let the light come from 
the side or from behind. 

The best position for reading is to sit 
with the light falling over the left 
shoulder. 

The light should be steady and fairly 
bright. 

Stop reading when twilight comes on. 

Do not try to read very fine print. 

Never read on a moving train, bus or 
street car. 

Stop reading if your eyes begin to 
smart or feel tired. 


114 


When you wipe your eyes, be sure that 
your handkerchief is clean. 

Never wipe your eyes with towels other 
people have used. 

Do not look directly at bright lights 
or at the sun. 

If you cannot see well, or if the 
letters seem to dance about the 
page, have your eyes tested. 

If your eyes become red or sore, go to 
a doctor. 

Two Eyes and One Mouth 

Two eyes and only one mouth have we; 

The reason of this must be 
That we should learn that it will not do 
To talk about all we see. 


115 



The Ears 


With our ears we hear the voices of 
those we love. 

We hear the murmur of the brook and 
the songs of the birds. 

With our ears we learn many things 
worth while. 


116 









So surely we should treat our ears well. 

We should never pick at the ears with 
anything sharp. 

We should not put anything into our 
ears. 

Without knowing it, we may injure 
our ears in this way. 

If we have trouble in hearing what 
people say, we should have our 
ears tested. 

Deafness may come from tonsilitis, 
measles or scarlet fever. 

If our ears ache or run pus, we should 
see a doctor at once. 

Remember that, if taken in time, most 
ear troubles can be cured. 


117 


Germs 

Germs are the smallest forms of 
plant or animal life. 

They are so tiny that we cannot see 
them with the naked eye. 

Some of the germs are our friends. 

Others among them are our enemies. 

The enemy germs may cause disease. 

They may cause trouble in other ways. 

They sour milk and spoil meat. 

They rot vegetables and fruit. 

Many germs bring disease. 

Germs cause diphtheria, pneumonia 
and smallpox. 

Scarlet fever and measles are caused 
by germs 


118 


Germs also cause mumps and whoop¬ 
ing cough. 

Even a cold is a germ disease. 

The best way to keep clear of germs is 
to keep everything clean. 

Germs multiply in dirty places. 

In clean places there will not be so 
many of them. 

We will try to keep our homes clean to 
get rid of germs. 

Keeping our homes clean helps to keep 
away germs that are harmful. 

We will try to keep our hands clean so 
as not to have germs on them. 

We will keep our food clean so germs 
will not spoil it. 


119 


More About Germs 

Germs may be found in water, food 
and on the dishes. 

Sometimes insects carry germs. 

Sometimes germs are found in the fur 
of cats and dogs. 

We often touch things that are covered 
with disease germs. 

That is one good reason why we ought 
to wash our hands before eating. 

For germs often enter our body 
through the mouth. 

They enter through the nose, too. 

Sometimes pus germs come in through 
a break in the skin. 

Strong sunlight will kill many germs. 

120 


Boiling water will kill germs. 

Soap and water also destroy germs. 

Keeping our bodies clean helps to 
keep us well and free from harm¬ 
ful germs. 

Make your body strong so that it can 
overcome harmful germs. 















The Fly 

In the springtime the flies leave their 
winter hiding places. 

They eat a great deal and soon begin 
to lay eggs. 

They like best to lay their eggs in 
stables, in filth or in rotten or 
spoiled food. 

Think of it! 

One fly may carry as many as six mil¬ 
lions germs. 

One fly may lay as many as one hun¬ 
dred fifty eggs at one time. 

Flies like dirt and filth. 

They feed on rotten fruit and garbage. 

They enjoy the filth of the stables. 

122 



From the stables they come to our 
homes. 

They alight on the food on our tables. 
They like milk and so often go to the 
baby’s milk bottle. 

They visit sick people and annoy them. 

123 



















They carry disease germs on their feet 
to our food. 

If we eat that food we, too, may be¬ 
come sick. 

Flies are our enemies. 

They often make well people sick. 

So we must get rid of the flies. 

They may not always bring sickness, 
but they always carry filth. 



124 






Fighting the Flies 

We must fight the flies. 

Swat every fly you see. 

Keep the windows and doors screened. 

Take away all filth. 

Do not keep decayed fruit or vegetables 
in the cellar or basement. 

Keep the garbage can as far from the 
house as possible. 

Be sure that the cover on the garbage 
can fits tightly. 

Keep the house and yard so clean that 
the flies cannot find a dirty spot 
in which to lay their eggs. 

If every one does this, we shall soon be 
rid of these pests. 

125 


Mosquitoes 

There are ten kinds of mosquitoes. 
Two kinds carry diseases such as ma¬ 
laria and yellow fever. 

Even when they do not carry disease, 
mosquitoes are a pest. 







They sting people. 

They poison them enough so that often 
there is a swelling and soreness. 

Mosquito bites itch, too. 

Mosquitoes hatch in swamps, puddles 
and pools. 

Sometimes they are found in rain 
barrels or in dishes of water left 
outside. 

One mosquito may lay four hundred 
eggs at one time. 

A single can of water may be a hatch¬ 
ing place for thousands of mos¬ 
quitoes. 

Boys and girls can help to keep mos¬ 
quitoes away from their homes. 

127 


They can see that water is not left 
standing in barrels, tubs, cans or 
dishes. 

They can fill puddles with dirt. 

Perhaps they can even pour a little 
kerosene on the small pools and 
ponds. 

This will keep mosquitoes from hatch¬ 
ing. 

They can help to get rid of mosquitoes 
by seeing that there are no damp 
or dirty places where they can 
hatch. 

In all these ways boys and girls can 
help to keep these pests away 
from their homes. 


128 



Rats and Mice 


We do not want rats and mice in our 
homes. 

They eat our food and supplies. 

They are too filthy to live in our 
homes. 

They should not be allowed to live 
in markets and stores. 

They damage and they destroy many 
things. 


129 















They carry germs of disease to our 
foods. 

They often carry such diseases as 
typhoid fever and diphtheria. 

So we must get rid of them. 

We can set traps to catch mice. 

We can set traps for rats, too. 

Sometimes we must use rat poison to 
kill the rats. 

We can fill up and cover holes 
through which rats and mice 
enter our homes. 

In these ways we can keep rats and 
mice out. 

Then we shall have cleaner foods 
and better health. 


130 


Colds 

Little naughty germs make us catch 
cold. 

Now, a cold is not a pleasant thing 
to have. 

A cold makes us sneeze and cough. 

A bad cough may keep us awake all 
night. 

Sometimes a cold makes our noses 
run. 

It gives us headaches and sore throats. 

Sometimes it makes us feel too cold, 
and at other times it makes us 
feel too hot. 

When we have a bad cold, we are 
too sick to go to school. 

131 


A bad cold might even keep us away 
from a birthday party or a pleas¬ 
ant picnic. 

Sometimes, when we have a cold, we 
have to stay in bed. 

Indeed, a cold may make us very, 
very sick. 

How to Prevent Colds 

Keep the body in good health. 

Eat the right amount of good food. 

Get plenty of sleep. 

Have windows open at night. 

Exercise in the open air. 

Keep the body, mouth and nose clean. 

Keep the feet dry. 


132 


Do not let the body become chilled 
by sudden cold or wet. 

Wear warm clothing, when it is cold 
or damp. 

Change clothing when it gets wet 
with rain or snow. 

Stay away from the person with a cold. 

Stay away from crowded places, too. 

Use your own dishes, towel and hand¬ 
kerchief. 

Have clean, fresh handkerchiefs every 
day. 

If you have a cold, remember the 
other folks. 

Always cover your mouth and nose 
when you sneeze or cough. 

133 


Healthful Homes 

In a healthful home water does not 
stand on the basement floor. 

A healthful home has a clean, dry, 
airy cellar or basement. 

Decayed vegetables and fruit are not 
kept in healthful homes. 

Flies, rats and mice are not allowed to 
stay in healthful homes. 

Garbage is not kept near the healthful 
home. 

It is always placed in a tightly covered 
can away from the house. 

A healthful home has plenty of sun¬ 
shine and fresh air. 

A healthful home is clean everywhere. 

134 


A healthful home is clean both inside 
and outside. 

# The people who live in healthful homes 
are clean and happy. 

We will keep our homes clean and 
wholesome. 

Boys and girls can help to do this in 
many ways. 

They can help keep things clean. 

Muddy Jim 

A naughty lad was Muddy Jim, 

He hated soap and water. 

He didn’t bathe but once a month, 

His nails he didn’t trim. 

His hair uncombed—oh, what a sight 
Was naughty Muddy Jim. 

—Emilie Berliner 


135 


Where to Buy Food 

Buy your food in the stores that are 
kept clean and free from flies, * 
rats and mice. 

Buy your food in the stores that are 
well screened and that keep food 
under cover. 

Buy your food in the stores where the 
clerks are clean and tidy. 

Buy. food that has not been handled. 

Buy ice cream in the store that keeps 
glasses, dishes and spoons clean. 

Buy meat in a market where it is 
kept fresh in clean ice boxes. 

Buy bread, cake, and cookies from a 
clean bakery. 


136 


Buy milk from the cleanest dairy in 
your neighborhood. 

Buy meals in clean restaurants only. 
Never buy food in unclean places. 



















The Healthy Child 
A healthy child weighs enough for his 
height and age. 

He is strong and well. 

He has good tonsils and good teeth. 
He breathes plenty of fresh air both 
day and night. 








He has enough sleep and exercise 
every day. 

He does not work or play until he is 
over-tired. 

He plays outdoors in the sunshine 
every day. 

He eats good food, chews it well and 
eats slowly. 

He does not eat candy between meals. 

He drinks milk, and orange and to¬ 
mato juices. 

He does not drink tea and coffee. 

He is happy at mealtime. 

He has rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. 

He obeys all the health rules. 

Now, are you a healthy child? 

139 


For Good Health 

I will keep the Health Rules and try 
to do right. 

I will brush my teeth well both morn¬ 
ing and night, 

I will drink lots of water, healthy to be, 

I will drink sweet milk, never coffee 
nor tea, 

I will eat wholesome food to keep well 
and strong, 

I will go to bed early to make my 
nights long, 

I will sleep with my windows wide 
open, too, 

I will get fresh air at night, good for 
me and for you. 

—Maria Halsey Stryker 
140 


Tobacco 


Tobacco is a poison. 

It hurts young people more than it 
does older people. 

Tobacco injures the heart. 

It dulls the mind. 

Cigarettes are bad for boys. 

Boys who smoke cigarettes do not grow 
as they should. 

They are apt to be under weight and 
under height. 

The use of tobacco is an unclean habit. 

The chewing of tobacco leads to the 
filthy habit of spitting. 

Smoking has a bad effect on the 
breath, teeth and mouth. 

141 


Tobacco weakens the body. 

It makes us more likely to take 
diseases. 

Then, too, tobacco costs a great deal 
of money. 

It is foolish to waste money on tobacco, 
pipes, cigars and cigarettes. 

Tobacco never helps a boy to learn his 
lessons. 

It does not help him to get work. 

Tobacco never does any good. 

In the end the use of tobacco always 
harms people. 

A boy who wishes to be a fast runner 
must never use tobacco. 

A wise boy will never use tobacco in 
any form. 


142 


Alcohol 

Alcohol is found in wine, beer and 
whiskey. 

Alcohol is always an enemy. 

Alcohol makes the muscles weak. 

Alcohol dulls the mind. 

It lessens the strength and shortens 
life. 

People who use alcohol are more likely 
to take diseases than those who 
do not use it. 

They cannot stand cold and heat as 
well as those who never drink al¬ 
coholic liquors. 

Alcohol brings sadness and trouble. 

Remember it is not wise nor safe to 
drink alcoholic liquors. 

143 


Things to Remember 

Eat only clean food. 

Put nothing into your mouth that has 
been in another person’s mouth. 

Never put pencils or money into your 
mouth. 

Do not bite your finger nails. 

Never drink from a glass or cup that 
another person has used until it 
has been washed. 

Eat fruit and vegetables every day. 

Drink a quart of milk each day. 

Drink four glasses of water each day. 

Drink no tea nor coffee. 

Come to the table with clean hands 
and faces. 


144 


Chew your food with your mouth 
closed. 

Chew your food without noise. 

Be happy at mealtime. 

Take a bath more than once a week. 

Wash your face, ears, and neck every 
morning. 

Brush your teeth morning and night. 

Wear clean clothes. 

Take a clean handkerchief to school 
every morning. 

Cover your face with a handkerchief 
when you sneeze or cough. 

Do not pick your nose, or wipe it on 
your hand or sleeve. 

Never spit on the floor or sidewalk. 

145 



Play Out of Doors Every Day 

146 














Do not shout in anyone’s ear. 

Sleep long hours with windows wide 
open. 

Play out of doors at least an hour 
every day. 

Be happy and gay; be helpful and kind. 
Smile and the world will smile at you. 


How Strong Are You? 

I like a lad of muscles big, 

And lungs of shouting size, 

Of active feet and figure trim 
And brightly beaming eyes; 

A lad who well can run a race, 

And push a paddle well, 

Or breast the waves with fishy grace, 
Or raise a schoolboy yell. 

—Amos R. Wells 


147 


INSPECTION AND SAFETY 
Health Inspection 

We have health inspection at school. 

Every day our teacher looks at our 
hands, faces, necks, ears, hair and 
clothes, to see if they are clean. 

When we are clean, and have clean 
clothes and clean handkerchiefs, 
we pass the health inspection. 

Sometimes, when we pass the health 
inspection, we can play “Teacher,” 
and inspect other boys and girls. 

Wouldn’t you like to pass the 
health inspection? 

Sometimes the school nurse in¬ 
spects us, too. 


148 



If we have bad coughs, sore throats, or 
if we look sick, she sends us home. 

She says that when we are sick, we 
ought to stay at home. 

Then if we have anything “catching,” 
like measles, we shall not give it 
to other children. 


149 















Besides, we shall get well sooner. 

The nurse helps the school dentist 
when he conies to see us. 

The dentist looks at our teeth. 

He tells us to take good care of them, 
and to see our dentist twice a'year. 

If our teeth are clean, the school dentist 
gives us a card that says, l '‘Clean 
Teeth” on it. 

If there are no cavities, he gives 
us a “Perfect” card with a gold 
star on it. 

Then we are very glad. 

We try to have clean and perfect 
teeth by obeying the health rules. 

Could you pass teeth inspection? 


150 


The School Doctor 

Once a year the school doctor comes 
to our room. 

He gives us a health inspection, too. 

He asks us to open our mouths wide. 

He puts clean white sticks into our 
mouths. 

Then he asks us to say, “Ah.” 

He is looking to see if we have good 
tonsils. 

If we have bad tonsils and adenoids, 
we take a note home telling our 
parents about it. 

The doctor says that if we want to be 
well, we should have our bad 
tonsils and adenoids taken out. 


151 


He looks us over to see if we stand 
straight and if we look well. 

He tells us that we must eat the 
right kind of food. 

He tells us that we should play 
out of doors in the sunshine. 









He also tells us to sleep long hours 
with windows open. 

If we are well, he says, 

“Fine! You surely know how to 
obey the health rules!” 

Then the doctor plays “telephone.” 

He puts the telephone upon our 
chests, and listens. 

Then he can tell whether we have good 
hearts and lungs. 

He says that our bodies are like 
automobiles. 

If we don’t take good care of them, 
they wear out. 

Automobiles are looked over to see if 
they are in good running order. 

153 


The school doctor says we ought to 
have our bodies looked over once 
a year. 

So once a year we should go to our 
own doctor. 

He will look us over carefully and 
see if our bodies are in good 
working order. 

If there is anything wrong, the doctor 
will try to take care of it before 
it gets too bad. 

This will help to keep us healthy. 

Of course, we are going to try to obey 
all of the health rules. 

Then we shall be strong, and well, 
and happy. 


154 


A Safety-First Club 

We have a Safety-First Club in our 
room, and we wear Safety-First 
badges. 

To belong to this club, we must obey 
the Safety-First rules. 

Here are some of them: 

Always look both ways before crossing 
the street. 

Cross streets only at the corners. 

Cross the street when the green 
light says, “Go,” or when the 
traffic policeman or the school 
patrol boy tells you to go. 

Play all games on the playground 
or in the back yard at home. 

155 





**h, 






'•»• *•••**/*, 




■*#•«« w *..** 4 


il><W< *** 




'■vftsl/tillUK+t 




(s. 


156 































Roller skate upon sidewalks only. 

If you are coasting down hill, 
choose a Safety street, or one 
where there are no cars. 

If you go skating in the winter time, 
be sure that the ice is strong 
enough to hold you. 

Play with safe playthings only. 

When you see a wire down in the 
street, stay as far away from it as 
you can. 

It may be a live wire. 

Should you touch a live wire, it 
might kill you. 

Obey all Safety rules. 

Be safe and be healthy. 

157 


A BETTER HEALTH CHART 


T AKE a sheet of paper and make a chart like the 
one below. Cross out lines on which you cannot 
give yourself 5. Then add the fives up and see what 
your health grade is. Make a new chart every week. 
Try to do better and better until you get a grade of 
100 in health. That is the perfect grade. 

My Better Health Chart 

[1] I brush my teeth every morning. 5 

[2] I eat a cooked cereal for breakfast... 5 

[3] I do not drink tea nor coffee.;. 5 

[4] I eat fresh fruit or prunes every day. 5 

[5] I drink several glasses of water every day. 5 

[6] I do not drink from a glass anyone else uses. 5 

[7] I sit up straight in school.. 5 

[8] I stand straight, with my chest up........ 5 

[9] I wash my hands before eating... 5 

[10] I drink at least two glasses of milk every day. 5 

[11] I eat plenty of vegetables every day.... 5 

[12] I chew my food well... 5 

[13] I play out of doors every day... 5 

[14] I do not eat too much candy..... 5 

[15] I am cheerful and happy.... 5 

[16] I take a complete bath oftener than once a week. 5 

[17] I brush my teeth every night. 5 

[18] I go to bed early. . 5 

[19] I sleep ten hours every night. . 5 

[20] I sleep with windows open._. 5 


My grade is. 


My name is. 


158 






























Suggestions to Teachers 

Better Health for Little Americans is an outgrowth 
of oral composition and of health teaching in a second grade. 
The vocabulary and sentence-structure, therefore, possess 
the desirable simplicity that leads to complete comprehen¬ 
sion on the part of the primary child. Thus the little student 
readily learns what to do to obtain and conserve good health. 
He gets a helpful understanding of the value of right foods, 
fresh air and sunshine, cleanliness, sleep, rest, and exercise. 
He learns “safety first,” and, through the knowledge and 
habits obtained in the community health lessons, he becomes 
a better little American citizen. Indeed, the detailed factual 
material here presented gives in a simple but interesting 
way the scientific knowledge that will eventually lead to the 
ultimate goal—namely, the achievement of permanent good 
health habits. 

The systematic topical arrangement of the subject matter 
is in keeping with the best usage of foremost reading 
authorities and educators. Silhouettes, rhymes, and riddles 
are stimulating additions to the book. It is hoped and be¬ 
lieved that this revised and enlarged edition, incorporat¬ 
ing lessons based on the latest thought on the subject, may 
reach even greater usefulness and popularity. The chief 
purpose of this primary textbook is to help little Americans 
build better health for themselves. The mere reading of 
the book is not in itself sufficient. The teacher should show 
by her own demeanor that she actually believes and prac¬ 
tices what she teaches, for children are very quick to per¬ 
ceive any apparent insincerity. She must supplement the 
interest aroused by the textbook by many activities that 
aid in the process of building better health. Monthly weigh¬ 
ing, health drives of various kinds, a preliminary prepara¬ 
tion to develop interest in reading material, and to secure 
the cooperation of parents are all helpful. The teacher may 
have health drives on: going to bed at eight, drinking milk, 
abstaining from the use of coffee, cleaning the teeth, etc. If 
she prepares charts to show what each child is doing, and 
announces the winners of the health race, she may arouse 

159 


even greater interest. Children who show little progress 
should be kindly stimulated. However, the health projects 
must never be made burdensome or an occasion for criticism 
that might hurt sensitive feelings. 

Other extra-curriculur activities may aid in the process 
of building better health. Daily inspections; excursions to 
the farm, the dairy, and to community stores; health 
posters; illustrations in crayon or water color; mounted 
pictures; interesting booklets; sand-table projects; and class 
room discussions are valuable supplementary devices. The 
memorizing of rhymes and poems, the use of programs, 
pageants, stories, and dramatizations, adapted to the pur¬ 
pose when time and conditions permit, are helpful corre¬ 
lations. Health songs, singing and folk dances, marching, 
rhythm work, and competitive games, are kinsesthetic activi¬ 
ties which assist in securing better health. 

Since health education as a topic of first importance in 
schools is now freely and even emphatically advocated by 
practically all educators, it follows that time for this work 
consistent with its recognized importance should be pro¬ 
vided and used. In the first three grades, from fifty to sixty 
minutes a week should be the minimum of time for health 
instruction. There should be a definite time provided on the 
daily program. A semester, or even an entire year, should 
be devoted to the use of the book with its many supple¬ 
mentary activities. 

In any health program, special attention should be given 
to the underweight child. No stereotyped suggestions to fit 
individual cases can be given. Every teacher according to 
her own originality and initiative will think of the ways 
most effective to gain results from her own group. 

Finally, the resourceful teacher will find that a carefully 
planned daily and semester outline for the teaching of the 
text book, coupled with initiative and originality, will be 
rewarded by a constantly growing interest on the part of 
the pupils. May the knowledge thus obtained gradually, but 
surely, result in the practice of health habits that will 
eventually lead to better health for little Americans. 

E. W. L. 


160 






























































































































































































































































































T 


















■ 



EAT WHOLE 
WHEAT BREAD 


EAT SLOWLY AND 
CHEERFULLY 


EAT FRUIT 


CHEW OUR FOOD 


WELL 


Learn to 

SCHOOL 

SA FELY&r^r^J 


PLAY\ 
IN S' 
SAFE \ 
PLACES 


GO TO BED EARLY 



/yr ll\ ' i V 

Ml 1 — V 

y Kw J 

pT 1 1 


WjrSir*r 'r/yo K 

^%\ 

■BBM«WMMTiTliTlffnBn'illlll 1 lt>l<ail(flIB 11 lillM!Tll>illilWmr>nw.1 



































